Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against several Iranian hackers for allegedly targeting members of former President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in a malicious cyber scheme, multiple sources close to the investigation.
The Iranian hackers were indicted by a grand jury on Thursday and charges could be announced as early as Friday, the sources said. The nature of the allegations and the names of the defendants were unknown because the charging documents remain under seal. The exact number of people charged has also not been confirmed.
ABC News and Politico first reported on elements of the charges.
A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment on CBS News’ reporting. A Trump campaign spokesperson also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Once announced publicly, the charges will mark an escalation in the federal government’s work to combat Iran’s Alleged Efforts to interfere in the 2024 presidential election. Federal officials have warned that Iran is seeking to undermine Trump’s campaign.
The FBI launched investigations earlier this summer after the Trump and then Biden campaigns. experienced phishing attempts targeting people associated with the candidates, sources told CBS News in August.
Last week, federal officials from the FBI and other intelligence agencies issued a statement confirming that “Iranian malicious cyber actors sent unsolicited emails in late June and early July to individuals then associated with President Biden’s campaign containing an extract from stolen and non-public documents. elements of former President Trump’s campaign as text in emails. There is currently no information that these recipients have responded.
The statement went on to say that “Iranian malicious cyber actors have continued their efforts since June to send stolen, non-public materials associated with former President Trump’s campaign to U.S. media outlets… Foreign actors are increasing their influence activities election as November approaches. ”
Iran’s U.N. mission previously denied plans to interfere or launch cyberattacks in the U.S. presidential election, telling CBS News last week that “the Islamic Republic of Iran does not engage in U.S. internal turmoil or election controversies,” adding that “Iran has no motive or intent to interfere in U.S. elections and therefore categorically rejects such accusations.”
Trump’s campaign revealed last month that it had been hacked and that Iranian actors were involved in stealing and distributing sensitive internal documents to members of the press.
FBI agents worked with Google and Microsoft — two large technology companies and email service providers — to investigate apparent spearphishing attacks targeting people close to the two presidential campaigns, according to two people familiar with the investigation. A report released by Microsoft earlier this summer revealed that Iran was evolving its tactics to influence upcoming elections.
Trump and former members of his administration have become increased targets of Iranian actors in the wake the murder of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020. Some former officials received increased protection due to death threats, and in July federal prosecutors filed a complaint against a Pakistani national with ties to Iran for allegedly planning to assassinate U.S. politicians, possibly including Trump.
Iran is not the only foreign adversary that U.S. officials say is seeking to undermine the upcoming presidential election. Intelligence agencies have warned that Russia and China have launched their own cyber campaigns to sow chaos, with Russia allegedly seeking to harm Vice President Kamala Harris’ White House bid.
Speaking at an Atlantic Council event Thursday, Assistant Attorney General Lisa Monaco said, “We’re seeing more and more threat actors, more and more threat actors coming into the game” of electoral interference, exacerbated by advances in artificial intelligence.
The goal, according to Monaco, is to “sow discord, sow distrust in our electoral system and undermine confidence in our democratic process.”
and Nicole Sganga contributed to this report.
